Sunday, September 17, 2017

2018 Bobbles I'd Like to See

Bobbleheads I'd like to see the Braves and their minor league affiliates put out next year. As a bonus I've added the Georgia Bulldogs, since they give out bobbleheads as well.
 
Since I'm an old guy I'd like to see more of the older players memorialized. next year would be the perfect time to do this, with the team still rebuilding and calling up younger players. The team has given Hank Aaron plenty of love, and rightfully so. I'd like to see bobbleheads of Phil Niekro, Bob Horner, Joe Torre, Rick Camp, and other former legends.
 
Several addicts would like to see another Ender Inciarte wall catch bobble. Since one was just given out in May, it's highly unlikely the Braves will come back next season with a similar bobble. Have they ever done the same player two straight years? Maybe a legend like Chipper or Hank. Look for the next Inciarte to be hitting in his next bobble, perhaps to commemorate his 200 hit season.   
 
Atlanta Braves:
Ozzie Albies (above, with nappy hair?)
Walter Banks BH
Mike Foltynewitz BH
The Freeze BH
Phil Niekro no-hitter BH
Brian Snitker BH (early in the season)
Warren Spahn statue
SunTrust Park model
 
Gwinnett Buttons:
Tommie Aaron
Ronald Acuna
Ozzie Albies
Damon Berryhill
Star Wars Chopper mascot BH
Button Gwinnett
 
Mississippi Braves:
Ronald Acuna
Luiz Gohara BH
Trusty mascot BH
 
Rome Braves:
Ronald Acuna
Sean Newcomb
Romie / Roxie double BH
 
Danville Braves: 
Ronald Acuna
Blooper mascot BH
Max Fried 
 
Florida Fire Frogs
Ronald Acuna
Fire Frog BH/figurine
 
University of Georgia 
Baseball: Buck Belue
Golf: Bubba Watson
Gymnastics: Coach Suzanne Yoculan
Men's basketball: Zippy Morocco
Softball: Hairy Dog
Track: Herschel Walker
Women's basketball: Angie Ball Watson
 
Other Braves ideas (some repeats):
H Aaron D Evans D Johnson 40 HR season BH
Bruce Benedict racing Tommy Lasorda & a pregnant lady triple BH
Rick Camp July 4th pinch hit HR BH
Tony Cloninger 2 grand slam 9 RBI game BH
Bobby Dews wearing chin guards BH
Bob Horner 4 HR game BH
Glenn Hubbard snake draped BH
Pat Jarvis sheriff BH
Ernie Johnson Sr player/announcer double BH
Brian Jordan Braves Falcons double BH
Leo Mazzone rocking BH
Crime Dog Fred McGriff BH
Andy Messersmith Channel 17 BH
Otis Nixon Wall Catch BH
Terry Pendleton 1991 MVP BH (below)
Eddie Perez extra base hit BH
Pascual Perez I-285 BH
Ron Reed baseball basketball double BH
David Ross lighting fireworks BH
Deion Sanders Braves Falcons double BH
Pearl Sandow HOF fan BH
Don Sutton Braves HOF BH
Joe Torre player/manager double BH
Ted Turner ostrich racing BH
Bob Uecker at backstop BH
 

Saturday, September 16, 2017

The Last Days?

Are we living in the last days? Some say yes. Others say this is crazy talk. Who is right? Who is uninformed? As I have said many times before, I am far from a Biblical scholar. I am no prophet. I don't have the time or desire to do the proper research. But this is my blog, so I can present information if I want.
 
No one knows the time and date. We've heard that verse a million times. But radical islamists seek to hasten to coming of their 12th imam, which is why they seek to destroy Israel and the US. The Bible says Jesus will not return until all have had a chance to hear about Him. Presently there are still a couple dozen people groups who have not been reached. Every year that number decreases.
 
Is climate change related to the end times? Another topic people draw sides over. Who is right? Who is informed, and who is not? These days I am not so sure. Matthew 24 speaks of the last days.
 
But as the day of our Lord grows near, the Bible warns of Fourth beast, not a country or dynasty, but an individual who will be different and charismatic, who will conquer entire world - and the world will praise him.
 
Science tells us that has been no increase in the number of major storms and hurricanes.
The climate is not changing. There has always been extreme heat and major storms. Our methods to measure have become more accurate. In the past many measurement means and devices were comparatively unreliable: from temperature gauges in a parking lot to sea level gauges not affixed to a permanent structure. People have short memories. Devastating storms from the 1900's, the 1800's, and before have been long forgotten. What has increased is the media coverage of these events, as well as public awareness.
 
But what with storms like Harvey and Irma? Earthquakes in Mexico and around the world? And mad men like Jong, Putin, Obama, Hillary, Bernie, Soros, and Trump? These were topics I wanted to address but didn't know how. As usual author Joel Rosenberg ties them altogether. Not sure where he gets his sources, that conflict with the Wall Street Journal piece.

 
 

What in the world is going on? Catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, terrorism, nuclear threats. Is God trying to tell us something? Yes.

Hurricane-IrmaWhat in the world is going on?
Hurricane Harvey drops 33 trillion gallons of rainfall drop on the U.S. Experts say the floods are a once-in-1,000-years event. Now Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Florida. 185 mile-per-hour winds. Experts say the devastation could be "catastrophic."
At the same time, Mexico experiences the worst earthquake in a century. Record-breaking floods are devastating Asia. Half of Bangladesh is underwater. 100,000 homes are destroyed. Forty million people face severe and potentially life-threatening food and water shortages. Russia is preparing to mass upwards of 100,000 troops on the borders of three NATO countries for a massive series of war games some fear is the prelude to war. The genocidal slaughter continues in Syria. Terror attacks around the globe. North Korea threatens to nuke the United States, then tests a hydrogen bomb and long-range ballistic missiles. And tensions over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem spike and then settle, and then spike again.
People have all kinds of theories as to what is happening, but the answer is quite straightforward -- God is trying to get our attention.
These events are not random. The God of the Bible is allowing these events to shake us, to wake us, to get our attention, that we might turn to Him and ask Him to have mercy on us and help us.
The Lord said through the ancient Hebrew Prophet Haggai that He would shake the nations in the last days. "For thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations….I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations." (Haggai 2:6, 7, 21, 22)
In the New Testament, the Lord reinforced that theme. "See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven'….Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:25-29)
The Scriptures are clear: the Lord shakes individuals and nations that we might let go of all of the flawed political, philosophical, intellectual and religions notions that we cling to that won't give us true peace, that don't give us real hope, that can't bring us any security, that can't provide forgiveness from our sins much less eternal life for our souls. The God of the Bible wants to shake us loose of such things that we might turn to Him, and to the life He offers through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord isn't letting America and other nations be shaken because He hates us. He's letting us be shaken precisely because He loves us and wants us to repent and turn to Him and call out to Him, as individuals, as families, as leaders, and as entire nations.
This is a 2 Chronicles 7:14 moment, for the Church, for America, for Israel, for everyone. "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 
May we humble ourselves and seek the Lord while He still may be found.
HOW DEVASTATING WILL HURRICANE IRMA BE?
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>National Weather Service warns: "THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS....THERE IS STILL TIME TO EVACUATE."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>5.6 million Floridians ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma (Naples Daily News)
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>National Hurricane Center warns Irma is "potentially catastrophic."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"Regardless of where Irma makes landfall, all significant hurricane
impact threats are likely this weekend for the entire Florida Keys,
including catastrophic and life threatening storm surge flooding and
destructive winds, potentially extremely high rainfall amounts, as
well as a threat of tornadoes," warns the NHC. "There is still some time to evacuate, and we encourage all residents and visitors to leave the Florida Keys."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Irma breaks another record, becoming first Atlantic hurricane to maintain 185mph winds for 24 hours (UK Independent)
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Hurricane Irma triggers gas shortages as panicking Florida motorists evacuate (USA Today)
HOW DEVASTATING WAS HURRICANE HARVEY?
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Harvey is a 1,000-year flood event unprecedented in scale (Washington Post) -- "A new analysis from the University of Wisconsin's Space Science and Engineering Center has determined that Harvey is a 1-in-1,000-year flood event....There is nothing in the historical record that rivals this, according to Shane Hubbard, the Wisconsin who made and mapped this calculation. 'In looking at many of these events [in the United States], I've never seen anything of this magnitude or size,' he said. 'This is something that hasn't happened in our modern era of observations.'"
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Harvey unloaded 33 trillion gallons of water in the U.S. (Washington Post) -- "The overwhelming majority of Harvey's rains are over, and we have a new calculation for the total volume of water it dispensed on U.S. soil: 33 trillion gallons. This number incorporates the rainfall not only in Texas and Louisiana, but also in Tennessee and Kentucky, which also experienced torrents."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Tracking Harvey's toll: 'This is the costliest and worst natural disaster in American history' (Dallas Morning News) -- "AccuWeather is out with the highest estimate yet of Harvey's potential price tag. The weather foreasting service now expects damage to reach $190 billion, or a full 1 percent of U.S. economic output. 'This is the costliest and worst natural disaster in American history,' said Joel Myers, AccuWeather's founder, president and chairman."
400% SPIKE IN GLOBAL WEATHER CATASTROPHES SINCE 1970
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Since 1970, the number of extreme weather events has quadrupled."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"There are now 400 extreme weather events every year."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"These include storms, landslides, droughts, and forest fires."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"This monsoon season has caused devastating floods in South Asia, killing over 1,200 people. The storm has left millions in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal vulnerable to food and water shortages."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"Almost half of Bangladesh is now underwater. "
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Hurricane Irma "has set a new rainfall record in America."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Weather-related disasters are increasing (The Economist)
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Short video on Twitter from The Economist
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Mexico's strongest earthquake in a century leaves dozens dead (CNN International)
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>"One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Mexico struck off the country's southern coast, toppling hundreds of buildings and sending panicked people fleeing into the streets in the middle of the night," reported the Associated Press. "At least 61 people were reported dead."
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>South Asia floods: Estimated 40 million across India, Bangladesh, Nepal affected (Australian Broadcasting Company)
<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>South Asia floods: Disease fears as floods destroy 100,000 houses in Bangladesh, aid agencies say (Australian Broadcasting Company)


 
 
 
 

Friday, September 15, 2017

Wither Deshaun

Deshaun Watson looked shaky in week one, showing poor mechanics he didn’t have in college. Throwing wobblers off the back foot, missing receivers like he did in college. Even his TD pass looked odd. Last night his spectacular TD run was the only offense the Texans could muster. I like Houston coach Bill O’Brien, but it doesn’t look like his offense is potent enough to contend. Not sure Watson is the answer, though he’s probably as good as any other QB on the roster. O’Brien is smart enough to tailor the offense to Watson’s abilities. Deshaun took a shot that flipped him. 
 
Both the Texans and Bengals color rush unis were ok. Might’ve been my TV, but I couldn’t figure out if the Texans had red trim or were wearing pink numbers for breast cancer awareness.

I read Jeff Schultz’s column on Snitker. Typical Schultz. Just trying to get a reaction from the readers. He says he thought Snit should be brought back, then listed some shaky reasons that really don’t cast doubt. One game he brought in Johnson because the other relievers had already pitched two straight days. The losing record after reaching .500, but not mentioning how vets were traded and rookies were called up to play. Schultz didn’t convince or fool me.
 
Snit will be back. Not sure who they could get that’s better. The players love him, and they traded Phillips and Garcia, and half the team is rookies.
 
Schultz may be right about the pitching. As you remember, the pitching strategy for 2017 was to sign stopgap innings eaters so the rookies could grow in the minors and not get beat up in the bigs before they were ready – in other words the pitching plan was to be bad. That’s why Garcia was traded. Colon was bad. Teheran had a terrible start. Jim Johnson was terrible, and the other closer got hurt.
 
Since the all-star break four rookie starters were called up for on the job training. As you remember, it took a year or two for Glavine and Smoltz to mold into all-star pitchers. They weren’t called up and immediately started winning 20 games a year. Same with these rookies.
 
Not sure I know the names of three of the Braves relievers. I did see that Minter pitched well. I have no idea about the bullpen. Some are terrible. Seems like they’re just going to finish the season with the guys they got. An upgrade is certainly needed.  
 
Before the season started the expectation was that everything had to go right to even think about winning half their games. Changing course and trading vets to play rookies should have lowered everyone’s expectations, but I guess fans think the Braves should win the World Series even in rebuilding years.
 
 
Tuesday: left work at 5 pm for a change. Drove home using the WAZE app on my phone, to avoid traffic and downed trees. Routed me a weird way through Roswell but thought nothing of it. I’d gone that way before. Picked up Ceil and headed downtown to IKEA so she could return an item. WAZE routed us to Windy Hill Road to avoid 75 south as much as possible. When we finally got on the highway it wasn’t too bad.
 
We ate at Nuevo Laredo Cantina. Ceil got her chalupa and I got chicken enchiladas. Very good. Back home Ceil had made banana pudding. M was watching the Food Network’s chef competition, so we watched with him. Later I watched Braves highlights.  
 
Tuesday W&MC’s dog Okie had to have surgery after eating something he shouldn’t have. Had to spend the night in the pet hospital. During the storm W has been working in the emergency room.    
 
Wednesday morning I took my regular route to work – which was blocked on Azalea near the Chattahoochee River bridge on Roswell Road. Had to turn around but still made decent time to work.
 
Saw one small tree down in our neighborhood, but there was very little debris on our driveway. There is a leak in our roof that has messed up the ceiling in our master closet, so I gotta make an insurance claim. After 30 hours my parents finally got their power back, but I’m not sure the cable is working on their TV. With all the devastation and displacement in Florida and the Georgia coast, so many people can’t be inconvenienced with a day without power without complaining.
 
After several nights on the go it was looking forward to an uneventful evening. Left work at six. Hairdresser wasn’t working  and I didn’t feel like stopping anywhere else. Ceil cooked chicken soup. Not much on TV so I played on my laptop.
 
Thursday morning I overslept 30 minutes, but made decent time on the way to work. Took me two hours to get home Thursday night…
 
1. Didn’t log out until after six.
2. Went upstairs to use the restroom. Noticed the VP’s office light on.
3. My laptop took extra time shutting down due to a download.
4. I stuffed several papers in my shirt pocket to take home. When I did this I thought to myself how every time I do this I run into the VP on the way out. Sure enough that happened.
5. There was a wreck on Medlock Bridge that slowed traffic.
6. Stopped at the bank and made a deposit. Later I realized I’d meant to deposit those checks into a different bank.
7. Stopped by Moes, but it was too crowded. So was the parking lot. Almost walked in front of a car that I didn’t see due to the setting sun.
8. Went around a slow Prius to get in the left turn lane. I was in its blind spot, and it cut across two lanes to turn left as well.    
9. Electrical crews slowed traffic on Riverside Drive.
10. Called Ceil. She was cooking supper so I didn’t go to a second Moes.
11. Got home and C wasn’t there. Decided to try another Moes. It was more crowded than the first, so I went home.
 
Soapbox: many people are in their own world on social media, seemingly posting every thought without consideration to Paul’s admonition to be at peace with all men. Their rights trump Jesus’ instructions for putting others first. Others post platitudes copied from their devotional booklets, then quickly forget them when interacting with others. It’s one thing to share glimpses of special moments of your day, but some are so enamored with themselves that they post every twist and turn the daily road of life takes them: "I’m doing this. Unless so and so happens. Then I will do that. Oh, look at this. Because of this I was able to do that. OK, I’m finished with that. And on and on." (my posts are probably like that, huh?).

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Week 2 TQBR

West Coast pretty boys Darnold and Rosen climbed the charts this week, as did “dual threats” Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Stephen Johnson. 
 
Kyle Shumur remains number one. If Vandy is smart they’ll keep the offense uncomplicated, a temptation most coaches rarely stick to.
 
1. 97.5 Kyle Shurmur Vandy
2. 94.3 Baker Mayfield Oklahoma
3. 90.2 Mason Rudolph OK State (above)
4. 89.9 Jesse Ertz Kennesaw State
5. 89.4 Justin Herbert Oregon
6. 87.7 Nic Shimonek Texas Tech
7. 86.8 Sam Darnold USC had a big Week 2
8. 86.7 Will Grier West Virginia
9. 86.6 Kelly Bryant Clemson
 
11. 86.4 Danny Etling LSU
12. 85.5 Daniel Jones Duke
14. 83.9 Ryan Finley NC State
15. 82.7 Jalen Hurts Alabama on the rise
17. 82.2 Lamar Jackson Louisville faces Clemson
19. 79.1 Taquon Marshall Georgia Tech
 
20. 78.4 Nick Fitzgerald Miss State
21. 77.3 Josh Rosen UCLA on the rise
22. 76.4 Shea Patterson Ole Miss
23. 76.3 Stephen Johnson Kentucky on the rise
24. 75.9 John Wolford Wake Forest
37. 69.2 Quinten Dormady Tennessee
 
43. 66.4 Trace McSorley Penn State
46. 65.4 Jake Bentley South Carolina
52. 62.8 Josh Jackson Virginia Tech
56. 60.9 Malik Rosier Miami
57. 60.3 Drew Lock Missouri
59. 59.1 JT Barrett Ohio State
 
62. 58.0 Chazz Surratt UNC
66. 56.4 Austin Allen Arkansas
75. 52.3 Brandon Wimbush Notre Dame: didn't impress
78. 49.1 Kurt Benkert Virginia
79. 48.8 Jake Fromm Georgia goes to 2-0
81. 47.7 Conner Manning Georgia State
87. 45.8 Eric Dungey Syracuse
95. 41.0 Shane Buechele Texas
 
102. 39.3 Wilton Speight Michigan
103. 38.8 Anthony Brown Boston College
111. 33.8 Max Browne Pitt transferred from USC
114. 32.2 Jarrett Stidham Auburn played Clemson
116. 31.0 Brandon Harris UNC
119. 29.2 Kellen Mond Texas A&M
133. 11.7 Malik Zaire Florida (one game)
135. 06.4 Shai Werts Georgia Southern ranks last

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Rose-Colored Glasses

I as I have said many times before, no matter the outcome people are going to complain. Tech struggles in the first half against Jax State before pulling ahead in the second, thanks to several turnovers. Fans forget they were still getting over a tough game just a few days before against Tennessee. A month from now people will forget the details and just remember that they won.
Same with Georgia. Dawgs went to South Bend with a true freshman QB starting his first game and came out on top. Sure there were lots of penalties, with is par for the course for any Notre Dame opponent. Rodrigo missed a field goal, but hit the one that mattered. Only the final score mattered.
Auburn fans were quick to forget they were playing the defending national champs. They only surrendered two touchdowns to a potent offense, and their offense moved the ball all day against one of the toughest defenses in the country. No shame in losing a close game at Clemson at night.

Last year the Falcons went to the Super Bowl because they got hot late in the season. They lost their first game at home to a division opponent. They opened 4-3 and were 7-5 before winning six straight to reach the Super Bowl. They aren’t going to blow out every opponent. Just getting a road win in week one is good enough. There’s plenty of time to work out the kinks.

My rosy outlook is why I’d never make it as a sportswriter or on sports talk radio. The only way I’d ever stir up the masses is because nobody would agree with me. But the AJC’s Dave O’Brien is the same way, going as far as arguing with fans for making ignorant statements. Some say a particular pitcher should’ve been called up back in June, and DOB will point out that guy had a 6.00 ERA in June – before he got hurt.

Fans have long forgotten that the Braves are still in the middle of a rebuild. Several regulars lost time to injury: Freeman, Kemp, Markakis, Carmargo, Flowers, and Garcia. Bartolo was bust. Teheran struggled. Even so the team had a .500 record before calling up a cast of rookies to see how they’d do. Half the fans had been clammering for that all year – then they started complaining when more games were lost than won. For the most part the rookies have done well: Albies, Carmargo, Fried, Newcomb, Sims, Sam Freeman, Gohara, Ruiz, Lane Adams. Four rookie starting pitchers have been called up to go with Folty, and there are more waiting in the wings in case these don’t work out. RA Dickey has been solid, and may be back. Fans forget how long it took to rebuild the Astros and Cubs, and how Glavine and Smoltz struggled before 1991. The Braves are building a solid core.    

I do agree with many that UGA’s offensive coordinator’s play-calling is perplexing. Yesterday I read an AJC article talking about all the various formations they threw at Notre Dame. It’s the actual play calls that drive me crazy. I’m usually not a fan of the wildcat formation, because the opposing defense usually defends stops the run.

When the QB takes the snap, turns around, holds out the ball, and retreats five yards to the waiting running back, who been standing still waiting on the ball – by then the defense has penetrated, making it almost impossible for the back to gain even one yard. Clemson does the same thing. Paul Johnson’s fullback dive works so well because the back hits the hole so quick. Saturday Georgia had success with the same play.
 
Another slow developing play I hate is the end around / double reverse. Usually gets thrown for a loss. The only time it works is when they run it fast.
 
When Kent State played Clemson and App State played UGA, the severe underdogs only chance was to play a perfect game. But what do they do? Get penalized for too much time, late hits, offsides, and other dumb things. Fumbles and poor punts. They bite themselves in the foot. This past weekend several early timeouts had to be called by Tech, Georgia, and Clemson. All had inexperienced QB’s.
 
Good move by Kirby last Friday to give Rodrigo Blankenship a scholarship so the kicker wouldn’t have one more thing to worry about in South Bend. Rodrigo has been consistent from close in, but inconsistent from far away. Maybe he can get several tries this week. I think last year Blankenship was told to kick high so the opponent would have to return the kick. This year they’re letting him kick deep more often.
 
Too bad Rodrigo didn’t transfer to Tech. The Jackets still have a problem. Number 88 missed an extra point, then almost missed after the next TD. Two kicks to the far right with no adjustment. It’s one thing to miss left then right, but don’t miss them all the same way. I guess the backup kicker isn’t much better. I may have to come out of retirement.

Last Saturday Tech’s freshman punter nailed another one inside the 20 – after faking a run.
Big Pressley Harvin III will be fun to watch.
Interesting that as soon as Harvin arrived at Tech he went from a stubby 6'0" 240 lb to a slender 6'1" 239 lb. Nice try.  
UGA’s new punter is an improvement over backup QB Bryce Ramsey. He is a graduate transfer from Colgate, who led the Ivy League in punting.
 
I haven’t minded Paul Johnson calling so many pass plays, since Marshall is a decent passer – and he moves around well in the pocket and knows when to tuck the ball away and avoid the rush. I’d like to think the Tech defense is improved, but it will probably be another year of the Jacket offense having to outscore the other team.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Surviving Irma

Didn’t decide for sure to go to Macon until late Sunday morning, though I had gotten the idea on Saturday night. My parents didn’t really want to leave their comfort zone. I knew they were saying they would be ok on their own, but if anything had happened there wouldn’t have been a way to get to them for several hours at the earliest – perhaps much longer if at all. I knew if I had told them I was coming they would’ve said not to. I drove down because it was the right thing to do.

Traffic on the way down was a breeze. There were few cars headed northbound as well. When I got to Macon I gassed up. I took the large spaghetti casserole that Ceil had made for lunch, and it was still warm when I made it to Macon. Watched a couple episodes of Walker Texas Ranger, and it wasn’t too bad.

We watched the news Monday morning. I checked email and made a few calls for work, and tried to keep all my email accounts current. Was unsubscribing from emails and posting items on eBay when the power went out around 2 pm. The bulk of the high winds and rain were hitting between 11 am and 3 pm, before slowly tapering off after that. I tried to stay off my phone to save battery life. There wasn’t much to do except lay on the couch. Might’ve dozed off for a little bit.

Warmed up the casserole for supper, finishing before it got completely dark. Finally checked my laptop before bed. The Forest Hills neighborhood not far away had got hit hard, which could’ve been the cause of the power outage.

Middle Georgia had over 100,000 without power, and over 150,000 in metro Atlanta. Ceil said they were ok, but trees were down in Roswell. Lights are out on Johnson Ferry. Seemed like the east side of Atlanta was the hardest hit. Coworkers in Lawrenceville were without power. Anna was without power. UGA was closed Monday and Tuesday. M went to work at Whole Foods yesterday afternoon, but they sent him home early.
Woke up this morning at 5 am. The power was still out, and I hated to leave. Torn, missing most of our 30th wedding anniversary. Got ready in the dark (couldn’t find my razor until I was packing) and left for work at 5:30. Hardly any traffic until 675. Southbound 75 was constant the whole way from Atlanta to 475 – heavier even than holiday traffic. Made it to work just after 7 am.

Our Tampa warehouse is sending out trucks to deliver today. The Jacksonville office has power. Here all of our trucks are out to deliver to north Georgia, but none of the southbound trucks went out for the second straight day. So our business is taking a hit in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Houston. Several vendors have issues. But my customer is back working today.

Fred O and Cindy Pitts weathered the storm down in St. Augustine, and Jennifer and Rose Johnson survived in the Tampa area.

Back in 82 I was still in Chapel Choir, but of course not Revelation. I think I stayed in Chapel Choir until after the 1983 choir tour. Back then SPdL was doing a lot with FBC Duluth. Dock was the pastor there for a while, you know.
This weekend I came across the old choir tour book from 1984. Tour went to the old church in New England that SPdL was modeled after…Providence R.I., right?. Also Boston’s Old North Church and Washington DC for a photo with the US Representative or senator. I didn’t go, but John had me write up activities for the bus. One day two pieces of paper were handed out – one to write their parents and one to write Dave Murphy. That may have been the senior year for Kelly Curran, Stephanie Dukes, and Tracy Taylor. Glenn Cowart, Carroll Glover, Heather Gudger and Dianne Durrett were on that trip as well.

Every time I almost get caught up good at work something happens to get my behind again. After last Friday I was nice and halfway caught up, so being off on Monday wasn’t too bad, especially with my customer not working. I could’ve made even more headway had I been here yesterday, but it was not to be. I also missed yesterday’s lunch meeting, with Mellow Mushroom pizza on the menu.

After raising over $135,000.00 for charity, Duck Commander Jase Robertson shaved his trademark beard. Looks like Willie was trimmed his up as well.

Monday, September 11, 2017

SunTrust: the Good, Bad, & Ugly

I've tried to be all positive about SunTrust Park. It's a state of the art masterpiece, a great place to watch a game.

People try to run SunTrust Park down but most of their arguments are lame. Downtown is not the center of the universe. Traffic is no worse than at Turner Field. The shops and restaurants in The Battery are unique and remarkably similar to trendy Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market. There are no chains like Chilis or Cheesecake Factory. Hip intowners just don't like mixing with uncool suburbanites.

SunTrust Park was built for millennials, professionals, and corporate types. The older fans are getting squeezed out – young fans too, to a certain extent. The stadium is set up so fans will spend money: a three story Chop House in right field and the Hank Aaron Pavilion in left. The Home Depot Clubhouse in centerfield and the Xfinity Pavilion above the Chop House. Almost all tickets are electronic, which is problematic when thousands of fans try to access their app at the same time. The paper ticket stub is going the way of the dinosaur, not just at SunTrust Park but also all across the country.

Everything is more expensive at SunTrust Park: tickets, food, souvenirs, parking. Parking is further away, unless you're a big-spending season ticket holder paying thousands for season long parking. Middle-class guys like me are getting squeezed. I can no longer afford to go to ten games a year. Walking a mile and a half from my parking space to the stadium has gotten old quick. Long gone are the dollar Skyline tickets.

SunTrust Park may be a great place to see a game. It's much closer to my house than Turner Field. I don't even have to get on the Interstate. But it looks like I can't afford to go to as many games as I used to. Guess I'll be watching more on TV.